Dear Poll: Is It OK to Spoil Your Kids?

December 3, 2007

Suri Cruise has been photographed all over the world looking like a mini Katie Holmes, chic and camera ready. She's constantly dressed to the nines and the lucky little one is even getting her very own pair of custom made Louboutins! Of course, it's fun to dress your kids up in cute clothing, but do you think it teaches them a bad lesson? Spoiling your children is one thing, but spoiling them rotten is another. So to all you moms out there, do you think it's a good idea to introduce extravagance at such a young age or do you think it puts them at a disadvantage when they grow up?

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39 Comments

Asia84 5 years 23 weeks

there are different levels of income. there are ppl who think if you buy your kid clothes from the Gap, they are brats, and obviously buying Burberry for your mini-me gets ppl in an uproar. it is those ppl's business what and how they raise their kids. as long as they have values and respect society, then what's the problem??????

Asia84 5 years 23 weeks

there are different levels of income.there are ppl who think if you buy your kid clothes from the Gap, they are brats, and obviously buying Burberry for your mini-me gets ppl in an uproar.it is those ppl's business what and how they raise their kids.as long as they have values and respect society, then what's the problem??????

DanaBana 5 years 23 weeks

One more point to make- a parent dressing their child in designer duds is for their own pleasure. Think about all the items we hear that new celebrity moms recieve for their little ones. It's so that the parents come off looking stylish because they're the ones dressing their kids. Basically, it all boils down to keeping up appearances in the media and making sure their kids are as well manicured as they are.

DanaBana 5 years 23 weeks

Suri's a toddler and certainly doesn't know the difference between a burberry dress and a dress from babygap. Dressing your kids in expensive designer clothes is the parent's doing. Katie probably feels that since she's in the spotlight, Suri will end up being photographed alot, so why not make sure she looks extra cute. No one really knows what Tom and Katie are teaching Suri as far as good behavior and manners go. Since Suri is so young, she still doesn't understand her privledged life, but for Tom and Katie's sake, let's hope they teach her some important life lessons. I dont think the church of scientology would approve of Suri if she behaved like a Hilton! Ha!!

zc 5 years 24 weeks

I think spoiling you're kids is fine as long as it's not done exccesively, and it doesn't result in them not understanding the value of things

Ericka 5 years 24 weeks

Just because they have everything doesn't mean they're spoiled it's whether they are taught to appreciate it that matters.

KathleenxCouture 5 years 24 weeks

I think if the parent relays the message "okay take care of this, it is very expensive and quality" it will teach the children at a young age to become aware of taking care of their things. I also think that disciplining plays an enormous role in a child being spoiled or not. If they are taught etiquette and how to be respectful then it doesn't matter how expensive their clothes are

KimBurnett 5 years 24 weeks

Designer clothing and shoes on babies/toddlers is vulgar.

KimBurnett 5 years 24 weeks

Designer clothing and shoes on babies/toddlers is vulgar.

veronicaraye 5 years 24 weeks

that girl is gonna be so demanding..

BRANDYNICOLE730 5 years 24 weeks

Materialism is a horrible thing to instill in your children, and Christmas brings out the worst of it!

remedios 5 years 24 weeks

Seems like a loaded question there. What one calls "spoiling" another calls "giving opportunities." I don't consider expensive clothes for toddlers spoiling though. It's not like the toddler knows or cares how much they cost.

chakra_healer 5 years 24 weeks

Kids, including the cruise child, are not spoiled? over-indulged? unless they understand the value of an item and request it due to the value.That child cannot be more than two, therefore, shoes are things that go on her feet. Those outside place a value on the thing she uses to walk on. Also, as Marseeah wrote, they are very well able to afford pricier clothing. However, it is just clothing.

chakra_healer 5 years 24 weeks

Kids, including the cruise child, are not spoiled? over-indulged? unless they understand the value of an item and request it due to the value. That child cannot be more than two, therefore, shoes are things that go on her feet. Those outside place a value on the thing she uses to walk on. Also, as Marseeah wrote, they are very well able to afford pricier clothing. However, it is just clothing.

KerryG 5 years 24 weeks

I agree with others that getting your kids nice things isn't necessarily the same as "spoiling" them. In this case, I do think little Suri is likely to grow up to be extremely high maintenance if they continue on their current path towards turning her into a label whore, but she will also be able to afford it, whereas if I dressed my daughter like that it would amount to criminal negligence, since she'll likely spend her whole life in and out of debtor's court if she's convinced she always HAS to have the latest $500 pair of jeans. I wish more celebrity parents would raise kids like the Trumps and Buffets, who were raised knowing they'd have to work their way through life just like their parents, and who got a leg up in life without using it to turn into drug-addicted, STD-riddled party animals, but rather work at real jobs, do lots of charity work, and are generally good, solid citizens of the sort any parent, rich or poor, could be proud to call their own.

KerryG 5 years 24 weeks

I agree with others that getting your kids nice things isn't necessarily the same as "spoiling" them. In this case, I do think little Suri is likely to grow up to be extremely high maintenance if they continue on their current path towards turning her into a label whore, but she will also be able to afford it, whereas if I dressed my daughter like that it would amount to criminal negligence, since she'll likely spend her whole life in and out of debtor's court if she's convinced she always HAS to have the latest $500 pair of jeans.I wish more celebrity parents would raise kids like the Trumps and Buffets, who were raised knowing they'd have to work their way through life just like their parents, and who got a leg up in life without using it to turn into drug-addicted, STD-riddled party animals, but rather work at real jobs, do lots of charity work, and are generally good, solid citizens of the sort any parent, rich or poor, could be proud to call their own.

citizenkane 5 years 24 weeks

When I think of a 'spoiled' child, I think of a kid that doesn't listen and obey rules, one that doesn't repsect adults, and one that think everything will be given to them on a silver platter and that they never have to work for anything. And I can't understand why anyone would WANT their children to end up like that.

lickety split 5 years 24 weeks

i think the thing w/ celebs is that the "spoiling" items are for the parents. a baby doesn't care anything about shoes or where they came from. if those same gifts were given to a person old enough to know what they were getting (teen w/ a stylist say) then that's spoiling. kids have to know enough about their environment and how to manipulate it before they can be spoiled or bribed, etc. p.s. the label thing bugs me. i would NEVER pay to have a label on my child (or myself) as if they were a walking billboard. those shirts that say "dior" or "polo" across the chest; why? my youngest is a material girl, lol. we are working on this. it seems like no good can come from looking for your identity in "things". there's always going to be some newer "thing" to leave you feeling left out.

lickety split 5 years 24 weeks

i think the thing w/ celebs is that the "spoiling" items are for the parents. a baby doesn't care anything about shoes or where they came from. if those same gifts were given to a person old enough to know what they were getting (teen w/ a stylist say) then that's spoiling. kids have to know enough about their environment and how to manipulate it before they can be spoiled or bribed, etc. p.s. the label thing bugs me. i would NEVER pay to have a label on my child (or myself) as if they were a walking billboard. those shirts that say "dior" or "polo" across the chest; why?my youngest is a material girl, lol. we are working on this. it seems like no good can come from looking for your identity in "things". there's always going to be some newer "thing" to leave you feeling left out.

Marseeah 5 years 24 weeks

There's a difference between Katie Holmes constantly dressing Suri in designer clothes and the lady down the street doing it to her child. Katie is staying within her means (remember Hulk Hogan's comment about "Tom Cruise" kind of money?) and, honestly, keeping Suri looking good and in the news is a good PR trick for them - plus, Suri will never have to work a day in her life. But the lady down the street is probably running up credit card debt and making her children used to a level of care that they will never be able to keep up.

princess_eab 5 years 24 weeks

wanted to add, I was raised to be against designer labels and to be very financially responsible and as an adult I am a label whore and I'm horrible with money. sometimes you can try to do everything right and a kid will still end up financially irresponsible.

Kristinh1012 5 years 24 weeks

When they are Suri's age, children are not materialistic the way WE are, but if you are a materialistic person, it is easily passed to your children at very young ages. My seven (soon to be 8) is pretty spoiled and has become a bit materialistic, but SO by mistake. She was our only child for so long, we didn't realize. We made a good amount of money and didn't have huge bills. Now, with a second child and a big mortgage things have changed and now we've come to realize she's pretty spoiled and we're working on it. Society is also causing it though. So a lot of it isn't even the parents fault. She's in 2nd grade and her teacher tells me all the time how competitive the girls are! It's scary. But I think there CAN be a huge difference in the word "Spoiled". There is material wise and there is the whole attitude. I think you can spoil your child materially, but bring them up to be thankful for it and not use it as a part of their personality.

Kristinh1012 5 years 24 weeks

nikodarling 5 years 24 weeks

I agree about spoiling being relative. Of course Tom and Katie are going to dress their kid in designer clothes, and why not. To them that kind of money is reasonable to spend on clothing. I think its how a child behaves that is important. I know some people that have very little money but I think their children are incredibly spoiled.For all we know Suri Cruise is a lovely girl who says please and thank you for everything, who does what she is told, who is expected to be well behaved. I think Katie is a classy lady, and there is no way she is raising a brat.

nikodarling 5 years 24 weeks

I agree about spoiling being relative. Of course Tom and Katie are going to dress their kid in designer clothes, and why not. To them that kind of money is reasonable to spend on clothing. I think its how a child behaves that is important. I know some people that have very little money but I think their children are incredibly spoiled. For all we know Suri Cruise is a lovely girl who says please and thank you for everything, who does what she is told, who is expected to be well behaved. I think Katie is a classy lady, and there is no way she is raising a brat.

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